The Wii U launched today, and while you’re waiting in line to get a system or downloading that epic update, you may be wondering what games to get from retailers or the eShop. I’m here to help. I’ve been putting… Continue Reading →

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The Wii U launched today, and while you’re waiting in line to get a system or downloading that epic update, you may be wondering what games to get from retailers or the eShop. I’m here to help. I’ve been putting the system through its paces since Nov. 8. I played through bothNew Super Mario Bros. U andNintendo Land. I’ve dabbled in a handful of other games to get the feel of them.
Here’s where I’d rank my top 5 launch games based on the short time with the system.
1. ZombiU -- If there’s one game to get during the launch, it’s this one. No other title this side of Nintendo Land shows off what the Wii U can do. But the reason that I put it atop my list is that it’s more cohesive and brims with a creepy atmosphere. It brings back the old-school survival-horror vibe as you play as a London survivor trying to get through the zombiepocalypse.
What’s interesting is that everything takes place in real time. There’s no chance to catch your breath as you wander through deserted streets, scavenge for supplies and pummel enemies to death with a paddle. To ratchet up the pressure, you have one character to get through the game at a time and if you die, you’ll have to start over and kill your zombified old self.
Ubisoft Montpelier also comes up with some inventive ways to play off the dual screens. Players use the GamePad to scan or organize supplies. All the while, they’ll have to be wary of danger that could be lurking nearby. There are also elements of Demon’s Souls with a player-run hint system and intense difficulty.
2. New Super Mario Bros. U -- Every Nintendo system has to come out with a Mario game of some sort, and the Wii U is no different. Unlike theGalaxy series though, New Super Mario Bros. U is a throwback. It’s a 2D platformer where Mario, Luigi and two toads have to save the princess through several different worlds.
This edition is huge and sports a hair-pulling amount of difficulty. The game will test the most ardent Mario fan’s skills. But the big equalizer is the Boost Mode that’s employed via the GamePad. It lets the user act in a support role, where they can rescue allies with bricks that they can conjure out of thin air. They can also stun enemies.
The most interesting thing though is that the GamePad player has a different perspective on a level, and they can often spot secrets or hidden items. It forces gamers into actual teamwork though having five players can get chaotic at times.
3. Nintendo Land -- If you want an all-around game, you can’t go wrong with this. Built like a theme park, this title has a good mix of single player and group attractions. Minigames such as Yoshi’s Fruit Cart are OK but don’t show off the potential and fun of the system like Balloon Trip or Takamaru’s Ninja Castle.
But the magic in Nintendo Land comes in the competitive play. Attractions like Mario Chase or Animal Crossing: Sweet Day are what the system is built for. The GamePad lets users be the person hiding while the rest of the group searches for him or it lets a user act as the guards hunting for critters stealing candy on a map. If you can get five people to play along this holiday, the experience can be life-changing.
4. Scribblenauts Unlimited -- I always felt that the originalScribblenauts on the Nintendo DS was a great idea on the wrong system. The controls were too clumsy and the screen was too small that playing the puzzle game was hard. In this sequel, the developer, 5th Cell, builds more of a narrative around Max and his magical ability to write objects into existence.
The franchise has come along way with a more open world and several playable characters that mixes the title up a bit. But the core gameplay is the same: Max and his siblings will encounter problems and you’ll have to write down words to try to solve them. For example, if a cat is stuck in a tree, you can try writing the word “ladder” to get it down or you could write “fish” and see it drop down to eat it.
The game still has players controlling Max with the analog stick and he can jump, but 5th Cell streamlined everything so that Max can use items more easily and manipulate the world with a tap of the touch-screen.
5. FIFA 13 -- I’m not a soccer fan, but this game could make me one. It’s one of the better ports that are out there for the Wii U. The thing that makes it different from all the others though is that EA Canada integrates the GamePad touch-screen into the gameplay. Not everything works perfectly but the thought and effort put into it makes it more than a quick cash-in.
The team planned out how to use the GamePad’s additional functionality and meld it with the gameplay. You can draw run lines for teammates on the touch-screen. You can use the motion controls to call up a new shot system that lets you kick a goal by tapping where in the net to aim for. You can even shuffle through lineups and add new strategies on the fly.
It all adds up to one of the better ports for the fledgling system.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/11/18/my-top-5-wii-u-launch-day-games/feed/8IMG_20121118_032609A quick look at New Super Mario Bros. U and Sing Partyhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/10/12/a-quick-look-at-new-super-mario-bros-u-and-sing-party/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/10/12/a-quick-look-at-new-super-mario-bros-u-and-sing-party/#commentsFri, 12 Oct 2012 19:59:15 +0000Gieson Cachohttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=24997

Here are quick looks at two upcoming Wii U games: New Super Mario Bros. U and Sing Party. One is the quintessential platformer while the other is a karaoke party game. I kept getting corrected on that. Both are first… Continue Reading →

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Here are quick looks at two upcoming Wii U games:New Super Mario Bros. U and Sing Party. One is the quintessential platformer while the other is a karaoke party game. I kept getting corrected on that. Both are first party titles that will be available for the Wii U at launch on Nov. 18.
New Super Mario Bros. U
There are two New Super Mario Bros. games coming out this year. The first wasNew Super Mario Bros. 2, which was a solid but unspectacular effort on Nintendo 3DS. The sequel was competitive coin collecting wrapped up in the charms of nostalgia. With New Super Mario Bros. U, I'm hoping for a fresher take on platforming.
And judging on what I’ve played so far, it seems the game does change the formula slightly. The upcoming Wii U release tries to bridge the gap between Mario novices and experts. The way Nintendo does this is by giving newcomers a simpler way to play using the Wii U Gamepad. The controller lets them creating platforms for the other players and stun enemies.
Of course, no new Mario title is complete with a new slew of power-ups and New Super Mario Bros. U boasts a balloon-type baby Yoshi and a flying squirrel suit. But the big reveal at the event was Boost Rush Mode.
The new feature is similar to a speed run. Like Gold Rush Mode in New Super Mario Bros. 2, this option lets players choose from several level packs. The pack consist of two or three timed levels.
The big difference between the two is that the Boost Rush Mode is built for multiplayer and that includes the Wii U Gamepad. The goal is to get through the stages with your friends as quickly as possible while collecting coins. The group shares a certain number of lives to do it -- usually 10 or 15 -- depending on the size of the group. The mode does have Miiverse integration built in. Perhaps, you'll be able to share your coin count?
The thing is players can’t linger and explore on a level because it is scrolling forward, pushing players to keep up with the fast pace. It gets hectic and there’s some panic involved as players jump over and on top of each other to get through pits or obstacles. Meanwhile, the Wii U Gamepad user has to create platforms and save the occasional misjump. It also offers coin bonuses for players who hit the block.
Sing Party
So with more than 50 songs and a microphone, I assumed that this was a karaoke game. But the folks from Nintendo insisted it wasn’t. They assured me it’s a party game. The difference? The Wii U Gamepad and Sing Party is designed to get everyone involved. Most karaoke games involve one person crooning Billy Joel songs while the others watch the performance.
Sing Party tries to get people involved via sing-a-long, dance and passing the mike. The Wii U Gamepad acts as a guide for the host or performer to get people into the act. It shows the lyrics of the song and offers cues for the star to get the crowd involved. The gamepad will exhort them to get the group clapping or tell the host to cheer on the other participants. There's even a mock applause meter that shows up after the performance.
From my first impression, it looks similar to any other karaoke game out there. The push for interactivity just changes the perspective of Sing Party ever so slightly. The ability to let others add sounds to their performance via Wii remote is smart but not game changing. It just looks like a perfectly acceptable karaoke game for the fledgling system.
Want to know what Gieson Cacho is playing? Follow him on Twitter. ]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/10/12/a-quick-look-at-new-super-mario-bros-u-and-sing-party/feed/1WiiU_NSMBU_scrn12_WPWiiU_NSMBU_scrn13_WPWiiU_SiNGPARTY_logo_WPBy: TwitterButtons.comDouble the New Super Mario Bros. can be double the fun (preview)http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/06/28/double-the-new-super-mario-bros-can-be-double-the-fun-preview/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/06/28/double-the-new-super-mario-bros-can-be-double-the-fun-preview/#commentsThu, 28 Jun 2012 11:00:18 +0000Gieson Cachohttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=24551

Back in 2006, New Super Mario Bros. was a welcome return to the roots of the franchise. It had been years since Nintendo’s famous plumber starred in a 2D platformer, and seeing him on the Nintendo DS reminded fans how… Continue Reading →

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Back in 2006,New Super Mario Bros. was a welcome return to the roots of the franchise. It had been years since Nintendo's famous plumber starred in a 2D platformer, and seeing him on the Nintendo DS reminded fans how good those adventures could be. Not everything had to be in a free-roaming 3D space.
It was no surprise but New Super Mario Bros. was a success spawning a Wii version. It was a quality title that touched that nerve of nostalgia. Fast-forward to this year and Nintendo is again returning to the well, but this time, it's doubling down with New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U in an effort to jump start their respective systems the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U.
I had a chance to play both games recently. Here are my quick thoughts:
New Super Mario Bros. 2 features a familiar power-up the raccoon tail.New Super Mario Bros. 2
When playing, the immediate thing that pops out at me is the 3D visuals. Mario is in the foreground and the background gives the graphics depth almost like a diorama. The level I played was a tropical island with Cheep-Cheeps jumping out of the water. Immediately, I lost my power-up and died.
You forget how difficult and unforgiving these 2D platformers can be. New Super Mario Bros. 2 plays almost like its predecessor, but the emphasis is on collecting coins. It's obvious in the top left, where your tally breaks past 100. It took awhile but I did end up finding the Super Leaf and gaining Mario's raccoon tail, a power-up not seen since Super Mario Bros. 3.
There wasn't enough room to fly so I wasn't able to take off, but the power-up worked fine letting Mario defeat enemies with a swipe of his tail. It also helped when stomping on a P block and collecting coins that rain down from a faucetlike pipe.
Shooting out a fireball when Mario is gold like this turns enemies and even blocks into gold coins.PLAYING WITH EXPECTATIONS: One of the smart things Nintendo does with this series is play off players' expectations and offer them something new. For example, I knocked on the familiar coin block repeatedly. I was expecting it to just cement out after a while, but instead, mashing on a coin block quickly will unlock a brick mask power-up. It stays on Mario's head like a Pinocchio mask and constantly generates coins as long as the plumber avoids getting hit.
The other surprising tweak is the golden Cheep-Cheep that's activated by hitting another P block. At first, I had no idea what made these enemies special, but when you defeat, I suspect, any gold villain, players get bonus coins for stomping on them.
The other big surprise comes with the Fire Flower. If players collect a certain one, they can unlock a golden mario ability. It's basically like the star power-up except it turns all bricks into coins the second Mario touches them. It's another nice touch in an entry that scratches that gamer itch to collect and amass high point totals. I'm sure there'll be plenty of can-you-top-this contests.
The Flying Squirrel Suit lets Mario glide across a level.New Super Mario Bros. U
This 2D platformer looks just as lush and gorgeous as its portable counterpart. The Wii U title shows off how gamers can watch the action on either their HDTV or Wii U Gamepad. There's no delay between the two screens. When you see Mario jump on the Wii U Gamepad, he instantly does it on the big screen and vice versa. It's a convenient feature that lets gamers to continue playing while a sibling watches, God forbid, "Jersey Shore" or a parent takes in a ballgame. Thankfully, there are headphone jacks in the controller so players can ignore outside noise.
New Super Mario Bros. U features the normal cadre of levels and I did grab two new power-ups. The first is the Flying Squirrel Suit. It allows Mario to glide across wide gaps. He can also gain an extra bit of heigh to his jump similar to the propeller hat in Super Mario Bros. 3D Land by pressing a shoulder button or by shaking the controller.
The Inflatable Baby Yoshi gives players another opportunity to jump. They just have to hold on.BABY YOSHI LEARNS A NEW TRICK: The other power-up is the Inflatable Baby Yoshi. It inhales air and essentially gives Mario a double jump. The rub is that the plumber has to constantly hold on to the Yoshi with the Y or X button. If a player's finger slips, it'll get tossed away. Aside from the inflatable part, the Yoshi does everything a normal one does including eat foes.
The bigger change to the gameplay is what players can do with multiplayer. Of course, four friends can join in with Wii remotes, but the person with the Wii U Gamepad has an extra option at hand.
Instead of being a character on screen, they can manipulate the periphery of a level, or to be more specific, they can create blocks by tapping the screen with the stylus. It's a useful ability to have but it also means, they can be an aid or a hindrance to friends on screen.
Those using the Wii U Gamepad can create platforms to help friends get through hard parts of a level.WII U GAMEPAD OFFERS NEW WAYS TO PLAY: Say someone makes a bad jump and they're headed for a pit, the player manning the Gamepad can create a block and rescue the ally. Players can make up to four blocks appear at the same time. Create more and one disappears. Tap the same place twice and it creates a coin-dispersing block. Players can even knock the wings off a flying Koopa just by tapping it on the touch screen.
With the newfound powers, players can participate in a Mario game even if it looks to hard. On the other hand, they can also use the abilities for evil. It's easy for Gamepad players to create obstacles or keep a power-up from friends. I can imagine an epic amount of griefing going on.
But for those players who are sympatico with each other, there is a speed-run mode for them. The two players can work in tandem -- one as Mario and the other on the touch-screen -- to blaze through the level with the new powers.
With so many avenues for play, I can see New Super Mario Bros. U as a way for families to bond together or a way for an older generation to teach a younger one the joys of kicking a turtle shelling into foes.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 comes out for the Nintendo 3DS on Aug. 19. New Super Mario Bros. U is expected to come out later this year.
Images courtesy of Nintendo of AmericaWant to know what Gieson Cacho is playing? Follow him on Twitter. ]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/06/28/double-the-new-super-mario-bros-can-be-double-the-fun-preview/feed/4WiiU_NewMarioU_3_scrn10_E33DS_NewMario2_1_scrn04_E33DS_NewMario2_1_scrn02_E3WiiU_NewMarioU_1_scrn01_E3WiiU_NewMarioU_2_scrn03_E3WiiU_NewMarioU_3_scrn12_E3By: TwitterButtons.com